Punk IPA Post Modern Classic Pale by BrewDog

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.5/5

Punk IPA Post Modern Classic Pale by BrewDog is a 5.6%ABV India Pale Ale. This is the signature brew from Brewdog and the easiest of their beers to find in the craft shelve section.

Label:

Beer was never meant to be bland, tasteless and apathetic. At BrewDog we are setting the record straight. We are committed to making the highest quality beers with the finest fresh natural ingredients.
Our beers are in no way commercial or mainstream.
We do not merely aspire to the proclaimed heady heights of conformity through neutrality and blandness. We are unique and individual.
A beacon of non-conformity in a increasingly monotone corporate desert. We are proud to be an intrepid David in a desperate ocean of insipid Goliaths. We are proud to be an alternative.
Ingredients: Marris Otter Extra Pale Malt; Chinook, Simcoe, Ahtanum, Nelson Sauvin hops. IBUs 45
This fresh, full flavour natural beer is our tribute to the classic IPAs of yester-year. The post modern twist is the addition of amazing fruity hops giving an explosion of tropical fruit flavours and a sharp bitter finish.

—

When it comes to IPAs, I have had many out there. Some way better than others. While doing a review on an IPA, I try to look for something that makes the beer unique to the others. Brewdog is no exception. Also, as I am not a supreme hop head (Those that will not drink any beer unless it is IPA) I can only review as best I can. I love IPAs alot but I love so many other beers as well. So this IPA is not as bitter or aggressive as others. This is good because those that do not like IPAs may actually enjoy this one. Some nice grapefruit, mango, peach, tropical orange, grassy and pine notes, along with some floral like notes. Hoppy yet, delightful. Caramel and honey flow through but not too much like other IPAs. There are some minor raspberry like bitter aftertaste which is nice. This is definitely brewed for the IPA fans that just want to chill. An IPA Light of sorts and full of wonderful flavor. Not bad for the guys at BrewDog :P. It’s unfortunate that some of their other beers are harder to get.

Elysian Blight

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.6/5

This is a series from Elysian, The 12 Beers of the Apocalypse. “The End is Beer”
Beer#9 (September) Blight is a 7.4% ABV Pumpkin Ale.

Blight is in reference to the theory that the world will end due to famine as a cause to diseases. Starting with the plants that will decay and die as well as the animals and humans that would eat them. The result may either come about from a nuclear winter causing a shortage of food, insects devouring all the plants, infections plaguing everything even humans which could cause them to turn into zombies and eat other humans. Another theorized event as caused by anything and is supposed to happen on 12-21-2012. The future is uncertain.

This beer is brewed with dark brown sure, pumpkins and Saigon (Vietnamese cinnamon) which is what is used when making pho which is a noodle soup. While pumpkin is a primary component of this beer, the fragrance of cinnamon is what really bleeds well here. The flavors are of pumpkin, nutmeg, allspice, apples, cinnamon, some what pilsnery, little bit of gingerbread, graham crackers, pumpkin seed bitterness and caramel. This beer is surprisingly smooth. The flavors are distinct but not overwhelming. The Saigon gives it alittle bit of a spicy after taste that lingers but nowhere near a chile beer. Down to the last couple of beers before the end of the world. If you can find this one, hope you enjoy it. I don’t think they will release these again.

Indra Kunindra by Ballast Point

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Asagi Igawa, Ballast Point, Export Stout, India-Style Export Stout, Indra Kunindra, Sakura Igawa, Taimanin Asagi | 2 Comments

Rating: 4.5/5

Indra Kunindra by Ballast Point is a 7%ABV India-Style Export Stout. It is an ale brewed with Curry Spices, Coconut, Kaffir Lime Leaf, Cayenne & Cumin. This is made extra robust made specific for travel through long journeys. This is the first and best beer that really brings about India cuisine to the world of beer.

Label:

San Diego is home to the greatest craft beer culture in the country. World class breweries, beer bars, bottle shops, and home brewers make our city a beer lovers utopia. To honor our brewing community and Holiday Wine Cellar’s 46th anniversary, Ballast Point and Holiday Wine Cellar are proud to offer a unique collaboration between home brewer and craft brewery. The result of our commemorative endeavor? An India-style Export Stout brewed with Madras Curry and lime leaf. Definitely not the same old-same old. Award winning brewer Alex Tweet really pushed the limited on this one – so enjoy it, and thanks for celebrating with us!
—-I have had some nice Indian cuisines in the past. Hot Curry is probably one of my favorites. Although I believe that Indian cuisine in India would be way better than stuff we can find here. So if you never had curry or Indian cuisine before, it would be hard to explain. One thing to not about this beer is that although it has its sweet flavors, the cayenne makes the beer hot and spicy like a chile beer. The balance to the heat is the coconut, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, lime and berry like flavors. While Curry is headstrong here, the cinnamon, cumin and sweet flavors bring it to a nice balance. I really think this beer would go great with Indian cuisine. I would recommend it if you love Indian food, especially hot and spicy curry. I do emphasize the hot and spicy as it may be too hot for some folks…but being a man who enjoys spicy food, this is awesome.

Vanilla Doubledog by Abita

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.8/5

Vanilla Doubledog by Abita is their 25th Anniversary Strong ale at 7% ABV. Leaning towards a strong brown ale.

Label:

Turbodog is the inspiration for this robust dark ale. It is brewed with generous amounts of pale, caramel, and chocolate malts and Willamette hops. Whole natural vanilla beans are added during the aging process. This combination provides a rich body and color with chocolate, vanilla and toffee-like flavor..

This ale reminds me a lot of the Rogue Hazel Nut nectar if it had more vanilla, coffee and mocha flavors. The beer smells like a caramel frappucino. While the beer does not shine in terms of alcohol, some of the flavors are not too overwhelming yet enough to make this a delicious beer. Enough to make it a nice smooth beer. Some flavors I can gather of those of the vanilla, caramel, hazel, coffee, mocha, milk chocolate, Anise, minor herbs and spices. Considering it is a sweet beer and one that is close to the hazelnut nectar but with more to offer I would consider this a recommend to those who like some brown ales or some sweet coffee porters.

Peach Porch Lounger by New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Series

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

Peach Porch Lounger by New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Series is a 9.4%ABV Saison brewed with Molasses, Hominy Grits, Lemon Peel, biscuit malts, Brettanomyces and Peach juice.

Label:
An afternoon on the stoop, foot stomps a loop. Southern style poured in 2 glasses, time becomes molasses. Harmony with hominy grits, peel the peaches and throw out the pits, get some action in the bottles with brettanomyces. Peach Porch Lounger is just for you.
—

Lips of Faith series is one I have been following for a while. I haven’t tried all their stuff but there are some that I would consider remarkable. This is a definite saison as it has the floral and bready fragrances. Upon sipping this beer, you are exposed to some flavors that seem like you are drinking Peach Cobbler or Peach Pie in liquid form. Biscuit and toast Bread, Peaches, grapes, lemon, caramel, maple, honey and molasses. A sugary Saison of Sorts. Most of these flavors are obvious from the first sip so it is not as complex trying to figure out flavors. Still a delicious sweet beer :P.

Fluxus 2012 by Allagash

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Fluxus 2012 by Allagash is a 7.7%ABV Belgian Pale Ale (BPA) brewed with green and pink peppercorns.

Label:

Allagash Fluxus is a beer that changes every year. It is also one of our Tribute Series beers. These are beers that benefit some of our favorite local causes. Fluxus funds a pediatric nurses scholarship at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, right here in Portland. For more info go to www.bbch.org

fluxus
[fluk-suh s] – noun, Latin.
1. a flowing or flow.
2. Continuous change, passage or movement.
—

This beer drinks a lot like a Saison or Farm House Ale. The fact that it is a BPA makes it not just sweet and bready but also hoppy as well. Flavors of biscuit bread, honey, peppercorns, grass, mango, orange, green apples, grapes, vanilla and oak. Reminds me of some of the delicious Stillwater Artisanal beers like the Stateside Saison. Overall it is a pretty good beer and worth trying for sure. Saison and Belgian Pale ale lovers should try this one. It definite does not disappoint.

Autumn Maple by The Bruery

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Autumn Maple by The Bruery is a 10%ABV Belgian Brown Ale Brewed with Yams, Molasses, Maple Syrup and Spices.

Label:

We don’t need pumpkins in our beer! Big, bold, spicy, oh so yammy. Our delicious Brown Ale is perfect for those cold Autumn nights.
Brewed with 17 lbs. of yams per barrel (in other words, a lot of yams!), this autumn seasonal is a different take on the “pumpkin” beer style. Brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, and maple syrup, and fermented with our traditional Belgian yeast strain, this bold and spicy beer is perfect on a cold autumn evening.
—-

The alternative to the pumpkins. This beer Adds some Belgium delight to the fall usuals. Some nice Bready yeast and dark fruits that remind me of like a quad if you amp up the spices and and add some more maple than caramel. I almost wanna say it taste like eating pancakes with maple syrup except you are drinking with a nice beer like Troise Pistoles. Must be the molasses. The flavors of the yams are like that of the sweet yam/sweet potato with pilloncillo (Mexican sugar cone), cinnamon, vanilla and milk as well. Damn …this is pretty good seasonal. Hard to play down The Bruery. Most of the beers I have had so far are pretty damn good. LOL especially since they managed to push my rating system past its peak making them some of my favorites. This is the first time I try this beer and all I have to say is that I am very well impressed :P. I am a sucker for sweet beers what can I say. Give it a try, it is not pumpkin, but I sure taste like it belongs in this season 😛

Oktoberfestbier by Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | 1 Comment

Rating: 3.75/5

Oktoberfestbier by Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan is a 5.8% ABV Märzen / Oktoberfest ale. More than likely, this is what is is served at Oktoberfest Events all over the country this year. Stories of Märzen and Oktoberfest beer originate way back to the invention of the refrigerator. Before then, brews were only made in the Fall and the winter and no longer made in the spr

ing and summer as they would get tainted with infections. These beers were made some time in March or Märzen. They would be brewed with higher alcohol, gravities or hops and cellared in order to preserve them. They would be served during the summer and whatever was left would be served in the fall at Oktoberfest or so the stories go. Anyways, there are several beers served at Oktoberfest running from anything Bavarian like Heffeweizens, Weizen-Bocks, Pale Munichs and others. This is an example of the more pilsnery Bavarian served. Smells like sweet honey, bananas, and pilsner grains. The flavors is reminiscent of the fall. With a somewhat cinnamon or pumpkin spice backbone but in a very very small amount. It’s primary focus is on crisp, refreshing and bold flavors. Some banana and honey bread, citrus hops, biscuit bread, candied sugar, flowers and somewhat metallic flavors. LOL but that’s usual with pilsners or lagers or ales that try to be like lagers. There are certainly more delicious beers at Oktoberfest for sure but starting off or finishing off with this one is is a definite choice 😛

Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout Collaboration by Stone, Iron Fist and Ken Schmidt.

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Mint Chocolate Imperial Stout is the latest collaboration for Stone. This time they teamed up with Iron Fist and Ken Schmidt. They bring forth this 9.6%ABV Imperial Stout made with cocoa nibs and mint.

Label:

There is no doubt in my mind that Ken Schmidt is one of the most creative brewers in the San Diego area. Thus, it is no surprise that he won (for the second time) our annual March Madness Homebrew Competition and AHA Rally. His winning beer is exquisitely well-crafted with amazing chocolate and mint flavors, and was, quite frankly, a challenge for us to replicate on our own system. But, given our past success with Ken’s first beer, and by enlisting the help of Brandon Sieminski from Iron Fist, I’m sure we’ve nailed it: a lusciously smooth imperial oatmeal stout teeming with cocoa and mint. This is one to enjoy now as an after-dinner sipper, or to cellar for several years. – Mitch Steele

Look…I am going to put it in as simple terms as I can. Bottom line, if you ever wondered what a Min chocolate chip cookies and cream with a Klondike bar graham cracker ice cream would taste like in liquid beer form, Then BEHOLD…you have this amazing master piece of a beer….lol now let me get into the details :P. Smells like graham crackers, coffee, mint, chocolate and vanilla. Flavors of Mint, chocolate chip cookies and cream, graham crackers, cinnamon, Vanilla Ice cream, earthy hops, smokey bitterness from the roasted malts. I am really impressed with this beer. Sweet chocolate mint ice cream in beer form. It just came out so you should be able to find this at Bevmo, Total Wine, Ramirez Liquor or Downey to name a few. Call first though. I go this one at Ramirez Liquor. Highly recommended little sweet mint gem :3. Gotta love chocolate and Ice cream and Mint and Graham crackers 😀

More info about the beer 😛
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDuUOh6MVs&feature=player_embedded

Four by Allagash

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Four by Allagash is a 10%ABV Quadrupple Ale. Made with 4 hops, 4 malts, and fermented 4 times using 4 types of yeast strains. What can I say, I’ve never have tried their version of a quad ale. I have to admit, I like it….alot. One of the key ingredients that shines through, aside from delicious quad dulce de leche flavors and sweet bread, is Vanilla, Bourbon, maple, earthy caramel and somewhat grassy hops like that of an amber almost. It is not like a coffee but more of a pecan nutty flavor. The quad flavors of bread, dulce de leche cream, caramel, dark raisins, plums, grapes and candied sugar still are there as well as pears, apples, and some sweet grapefruit. I think mainly from the hop. Interesting quad none the less and worth a try. A definite recommendation if you do happen to find it.

Scythe & Sickle by Ommegang

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4/5

Scythe & Sickle by Ommegang is a 5.8%ABV Bière de Garde ale. Like other ales I have tried of this style, they are mainly in the level of caramel, bitter and somewhat sweet.

Label:

Scythe & Sickle is an-amber ale brewed with a variety of malts, including pils, rye flakes and oat flakes, for incredible depth of flavor and a hint of natural sweetness. Scythe & Sickle brings a new life and flavor to autumn beer lists traditionally filled with Oktoberfests and pumpkin ales. The flavors of the hard work of summer and the celebration of autumn harvest are captured in Scythe & Sickle, creating a unique but traditional Ommegang farmhouse harvest ale.

“Scythe & Sickle is our foray into honoring the harvest season, taking the finest malts and blending them seamlessly into a rich amber ale,” says Brew Master Phil Leinhart. “Farming is about precision, timing and care, and this gently sweet ale is our testament to the craft and care of farming.”

This is the first time I see an Ommegang 4 pack beer. Needless to say, name aside, I had to try it. Smells of flowers, Belgian bread, caramel and some minor raisin. The taste is actually like a rye or sourdough multi-grain bread, minor caramel, pear, peach, banana, lemon, pepper, herbs, spices and bitter tea. Definitely right for the harvest season. While sweet pumpkin beers is the thing around fall, this one brings forth some real autumn taste and fragrance. Biere de Garde fans will like this one, although I have a hankering for some JP Fuego Del Otoño which is more of a camp smoke and Fall Leaves type of beer. Check my earlier reviews 😀

Leffe Blond by Abbaye de Leffe

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.75/5

Leffe Blond by Abbaye de Leffe is a 6.6%ABV Belgian Blonde Pale Ale. Finally had a chance to try this beer after realizing that InBev took a hold of the distribution. I didn’t wanna try it at first but then when I finally had a chance I was pleasantly surprised

Label:

Award-winning Leffe Blonde is a full-bodied deep golden ale that is surprisingly subtle and delicate. Belgium’s classic abbey ale is best served in its own chalice-shaped glass, accentuating the ale’s aroma and creating the pefect head.

This beer is actually like the Abbeys yet more like a German Bavarian Heffeweizen. Bread yeast and banana clove upfront. Some sugar, minor lemon, honey, some minor pilsener and grass. Good luck finding the alcohol. They do well to hide it. Smooth, crisp and refreshing. A light Belgian if I may add. This beer is pretty good if you want a gateway into the world of Belgian Beers. LOL even if it does taste more like a Bavarian German beer. Now if you add complexity of dark fruits then we would be in business. Still. A pretty good beer even if it was imported by InBev. I would take this any day over many selections if I had no craft beer available. An entry level beer for those who love Belgian Beers 😛

Amber by Karl Strauss

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.5/5

Amber by Karl Strauss is a 4.5%ABV Amber Lager. I got a chance to finally try this after my trip to San Diego. My friend Adrian asked to get a review of this beer. So here it is 😛

Label:

With the first batch of his namesake Amber, Karl shared a beer and a passion that changed brewing in San Diego. Imported Munich malts give our original flagship the deep bronze color and crisp toasted malt flavors of a Vienna-style lager, while Cascade hops and our proprietary yeast strain lend a smooth body and clean finish. Brewed in small batches since 1989, Karl Strauss Amber remains San Diego’s original session beer.

Karl spent his life making beer. He believed that behind every beer recipe was an inspiration, and behind every pint was a story waiting to be told. Karl Strauss Amber was his story, a story that challenged and inspired a new generation of brewers. Today we brew our own stories, while raising a pint to the man and the beer that started it all.

Specs:
Alcohol by Volume: 4.5%
Color: 15 SRM
Bitterness: 18 IBU
Availability: 24/7/365, Kegs, six-packs and twelve-packs.

Note:Formerly Karl Strauss Amber Lager, 4.2% and 16 IBU. \

After reading the information, it looks like this beer is no longer called Amber Lager. Yet because I remember trying this beer during my birthday at my friend Jorge’s as “Amber Lager” in the past, I guess the ABV does make it fit as a lager rather than an Ale. Take that Bud light!!! a beer more flavorful at only .3 ABV more. My friend Adrian did not like this beer. He says it taste like Formaldehyde….lol you be the judge. As for me, I have never tasted formaldehyde but maybe this beer would probably taste like the smell of that. Although you have to realize when it comes it Ambers, you are tasting an even combination of hops and malts. So much that it creates a hybrid that is similar to tasting caramel, pine, peanuts and in the case of New Belgiums fat tire, chocolate and biscuit bread. The whole point of this beer is to introduce a strong amount of delicious flavors while still trying to keep a low ABV. This causes the beer to seem not as strong, refreshing and drinkable. There is also some honey, light maple, grapefruit and alittle bit of butterscotch. Honestly, for me it is a decent Amber. Although I have tried better ambers, this works for those that may want to explore amber beers :P.

Shock Top End of the World Midnight Wheat by Anheuser-Busch InBev

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.25/5

Shock Top End of the World Midnight Wheat by Anheuser-Busch InBev is a 6% ABV Ale Brewed with Midnight Wheat, Chocolate Malts and Chili Spice. I know I know….It’s an A-B product (Like Budweiser, Budlight, etc.) Interestingly enough though, I don’t turn down any beer until I give it a chance :). Besides, I’ve been waiting all year to actually try this release. While The pumpkin one just came out, this one is rare to find but will be everywhere really soon. Also, this taste a lot better colder than warmer. You would expect the opposite from more complex beers but anyways I figure I’d tell it to you straight. The fragrance of the beer is like chocolate, cinnamon, champurrado (Mexican Atole based drink made with Maza (Corn Flour)). The flavors are not too strong but for a beer that tries to introduce craft drinkers to something different and maybe something they may enjoy, it tries hard. There are flavors of cinnamon, chocolate, champurrado, wheat, orange peel, alittle bit of chipotle chile flavor, but very little, pilsner grains, and nutmeg. I think the wheat and pilsnery flavors over power the rest of the chocolate, cinnamon, chile and chapurrado flavors. Other than than, it is a decent beer. I think if you are really looking for stronger Chocolate, Mole, Champurrado and some more chile spiced beer try the New Belgium Mole Ole Ale or other chile chocolate beers. I would say give it a try once. Simply because the Idea that they would try to deliver a craft beer that is decent is worth a try. Especially a chocolate/Chile/Belgian White Hybrid. They really pushed the whole “End of the World” thing all year to come out with this beer. You be the judge of this and let me know what you think. I found this at Ramirez Liquor but it will surely hit shelves all over as soon as the fall season hits its peak. Was definitely worth trying at least until the End of the World comes 😛

Elysian Ruin

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

This is a series from Elysian, The 12 Beers of the Apocalypse. “The End is Beer”
Beer#5 (May) Ruin is a 7.3% ABV Rosemary Agave India Pale Ale.

Ruin is in reference to the apocalyptic event that is caused by many outcomes. Some could be due to war, chaos, destruction by external planetary objects, beings, etc. The fact is, everything has decayed and the land in ruin. Unlike Wasteland, where there

is simply nothing, this is the pre-wasteland scenario. Where things take a shit. Like the economic collapse would also be a good example. World Famine and disease would come as well after everything is ruined. This scenario is most likely to happen than some of the other ones I mentioned in previous beers, at 12-21-2012, the so called, end of times.

Elysian Fallout

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | 1 Comment

This is a series from Elysian, The 12 Beers of the Apocalypse. “The End is Beer”
Beer#3 (March) Fallout is a 7.3% ABV Green Cardamom Pale Ale.

Fallout is in reference to the apocalyptic event that comes when the results of a nuclear Holocaust causes the radiation and chemicals to travel into the atmosphere. This will cover up the sun and lead to nuclear winter. It is one of the many apocalyptic, and more realistic events that could happen at the end of world in the so called date of 12-21-2012. This event will turn the earth asunder as a cause of wars between countries and those who have the greater fire power.

As follows Eschatological Ale by Stillwater Artisanal

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged As follows, Asmodeus, Astaroth, Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Strong Pale Ale, Eschatological Ale, Stillwater Artisanal | 1 Comment

Rating: 5/5

The End is near. What you face here is the beginning of the end. If you thought you were a bad ass before, well forget it. The end comes to those whose time is up. If it really is true about the whole 2012 deal then this is what this ale is all about. Even if it doesn’t happen, there is always a free for all between who is gonna keep your soul. Only chance you got is how you lead your life. Whether God or the Devil…who will be the higher bidder?…If you believe that stuff of course..meaning you either go to heaven or hell and all. As Follows by definition as stated in the bottle means

===========
1. To come or go after; proceed behind 2. To move along the course of; take 3. To adhere to; practice 4. To engage in (a trade or occupation); work at 5. To come after in order, time, or position 6. To occur or be evident as a consequence of 7. To grasp the meaning or logic of; understand.
==============================
This means that if things will end then the the time will come whether you like it or not. Whatever meaning you choose to grasp it is irrelevant in the perception of others. What matters is what you choose to make out of it. As Follows by Stillwater Artisanal is a Belgian Pale Eschatological Ale at 9%ABV. Eschatological as in the study of the apocalypse. This brew is made to celebrate Stillwater Artisanal’s Anniversary 2 year anniversary where they first poured the very first Stateside Saison in Baltimore Maryland. Also celebrating the end of the world as who knows if he will be able to brew up anymore beers after this year ends…if the Apocalyptic stories of the Mayan calendar are true of course. I am sure zombies enjoy good beer too, they won’t pass up any good ones like these. I know I wont >:P….. SO about this beer….Evil and disturbing as the bottle may look, we have to take in the abstract art as art. Take the taste and experience once sip at a time. When I first opened this bottle, I was rushed with a lot of hoppy bread and floral honey fragrances. They say the devils water it ain’t so sweet. Whoever was drinking that stuff may not have been this stuff. It is a mix of sweet and minor bitterness. Mild citrus, piney, and grassy notes followed by honey, bready saison, peach, mangos and flowers as well as some other spices. It is like taking an IPA and aging it with fruits and yeast. Simply remarkable. If really is gonna be the end of the world, I would drink a glass of Judgment Day Ale, followed by Eschatological ale and finish with Trois Pistoles. Reminds me of the movie Scanner darkly where Freck was told all his sins for all eternity…and in the end he though “At least I had a good wine”…except for me…”At least I finished off with a good beer”…maybe Ill be told all my good deeds since I tell my friends about good beers 😉

Original Review: https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/as-follows-by-stillwater-artisanal-eschatological-ale/

Rogue Dead Guy Ale Growler

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rogue Dead Guy Ale Review: https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/rogue-dead-guy-ale/

Art of Darkness by Ommegang *6 month version

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Art of Darkness, Asmodeus, Belgian Strong Ale, Belgian Strong Dark Ale, belgian style ale, best beers in the world, bottle aged, bottle conditioned, mystical incantations, Ommegang, Shinra Bansho, Shinra Banshou, three philosophers, Trois Pistoles | 1 Comment

Rating: 5/5 *6 month version2012 (6 months later)

Art of Darkness by Ommegang is an 8.9% Belgian Dark Ale. What can I say, this is the third time I try this beer. I enjoyed it so much I took 2 bottles and started to aged them. I have one aging right now but decided to try the 6 month version. As I had mentioned before, this one is on my list of favorite beers ever. Reminding me of the Thirteenth Hour Stout. Taste more like Stout if it was hybrid with Troise Pistoles and St. Bernardus. Now the thing is, now the chocolate and dulce de leche bread are pushing through further and further. Looks like maturation is starting to make the ABV higher but also bringing forth more sweetness along side with the dark Belgian fruits like the plums, raisins, prunes and cherries. I will probably hold off on this beer for several years and see where it goes. 2012 (Earlier Review)

So it comes down to this huh?? Dabbling with things that should not be dabbled with. But what can one achieve with finding something beyond the taboo of brewing?? Well if anything, hope you don’t get cursed along the way >:)… So for those that may not want to dabble in darkness… I took it upon myself to try this beer before it hit the stores. In fact this beer isn’t even set to release until April 2012. Let’s just say I got the hookups. This is … Art of Darkness Belgian Dark Ale. It is a brew at 8.9% ABV made by Ommegang brewing. A homage to the dark arts of brewing some of the best dark beers in the world. A la Troise Pistoles, Thirteenth Hour Stout, Terrible, St Bernardus 12, Westvleteren, etc. Baler and wheat malts combine with flaked oats, Ommegang yeast and noble hops. Even though the beer is has no secret ingridients like eye of newt or special incantations. The theory is simple, the flavor is complex and delicious. I think I shoul start by mentioning that this beers is much like the Thirteenth hour stout, devils chocolate cake/bread.It follows vanilla and faint grassy citrus bitterness. The sweetness overwhelms both the the after taste and the boozy alcohol feel.Some raisins and licorice flavors are present in there as well. Overall it wants to fit somewhere in the middle of the triangle that composes the best beers in the world for me, Trois Pistoles, St. Bernardus abt 12 and Thirteenth hour. However, it does go toe to toe with the Three philosophers as well except one is cherry bread and the other is chocolate. This Devil’s water is damn sweet, and if you would want to dable at this fine masterpiece…well…good luck >:]

Older Viscosity (2008 ed.) by Port Brewing

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.95/5 *2008 release

2008 version review:
I have reviewed this beer a couple of months back . However, this one is the the 2008 version. So it has been aging for the last 4 years. It’s ABV has raised anywhere from 12% to 15%. a lot of the smokey notes are hardly there anymore replace by more spicy notes. Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, vanilla, caramel, bourbon, marshmallow, raisins, plums, Kahlua liquor, graham crackers and cinnamon. Some flavors have been upgraded as it aged the 4 years. If you do happen to find this beer, drink one for now, save the other for aging..

2012 Review:
Rating: 4.75/5 Older Viscosity by Port Brewing is a 12% ABV oak barrel aged imperial stout. They take the original old viscosity and age it to hell and back… LOL

Here is the Official info from the label:
3000 miles, that’s what auto makers recommend as the distance your car should travel before changing out that nasty used up oil. Sure. Yeah right you betcha! 3000 miles and not a foot further. I’ll get right on that. Except, that isn’t older viscosity. Nope. This is one seriously sludgy – I just traveled 10,000 miles sort of beer. It’s the way we want it to be. We make no apologies for the viscosity of this thing. Could you run your car on it? Well, we say most likely not. But then again, we’re never tried. Perhaps it could! At Port Brewing, we make Old Viscosity as one of our year round beers. A portion of each batch of Old Viscosity is aged for at least 6 months in use Bourbon barrels. Each year, we also select some of the best barrels from our cellars and blend them together for the release of Older Viscosity Ale. We’ll let you decide which one you like better. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have an experiment we need to conduct with the old ’53 Chevy out behind the brewery.
===================================

Well what can I say about this beer other than the boozy bourbon flavor that so reminds me of angel share yet not bready but more chocolate, smoked coffee, molasses, (soy sauce maybe) and a massive doze of vanilla and caramel. It is thick as hell like the old viscosity but not as smokey. Leave it to the boozy bourbon to take care of that and replace some of the smoke for alcohol and dark fruit raisin sugar. This is the second time I try this beer and not at all disappointing. It definitely holds its own in black gold as well as it is more valuable. Stout lovers will try this and get tossed like little bitches. Not for the faint of heart or the unworthy. Maybe beer geeks will rejoice … I sure as hell did.

2011 Review:
Now this is something super fancy. An Imperial stout that does not play like a stout at all. Looks like the oil that drained from an old car like the label shows. Very viscous and dark. Tastes of strong bourbon masked by dark chocolate and fruity flavors as well as vanilla aromas to the scent. If you want something very special then pick this one up. Comes out once a year. No bitterness and the strength comes from the 12% alcohol and rich flavors

Deliverance (2009 ed.) by The Lost Abbey

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Angel Share, Barrel Aged Beer, Deliverance, Good vs. Evil, Heaven, Hell, Panty, Panty and Stocking, Scanty, Serpent's Stout, The Lost Abbey, The Lost Abbey Deliverance | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.25/5 *2009/Original Release version2009 Version:
Deliverance (2009 ed.) by The Lost Abbey is a 12.5% Angel Share and Serpent Stout hybrid. This bottle was from the original release back in 2009. So it has aged for 3 years.

Label:
Whether you’re a “Lead us not into Temptation.” or a “Deliver us from Evil” son of person matter not. The end of the world is no longer near. It’s Frigging upon us! Apocalypse. Doomsday and Armageddon have all converged on earth rendering it one gigantic volcanic lake of pestilence. Free will caught the bus out of town and Salvation can only be found in the outstretched hands of His Redeeming Angel’s. It’s sad but true. Our lots were cast long ago and Judgment has arrived. There is nothing we can do to improve our standings. They don’t offer cuts in the Line of Heaven. So stop trying to “Love thy neighbor” and join us as we kick back waiting for our souls to be fetched. In honor of civilization’s end, we put together your own personal Deliverance in a bottle. It won’t save you from Satan’s grasp. But sin tastes good. So, bottom’s up. Or is it down.
——-In comparison to my other reviews, I have to add that this beer sure has become a lot better with time. Less alcohol strength up front but because it has aged, the ABV must be anywhere from 14-15%. That’s pretty damn evil. Reels you in sweetness and then bite back with a buzz. The level of the chocolate is much stronger than the bitter coffee. There is more bourbon, dulce de leche, leche nestle(Mexican sweetened condensed milk) soaked in bread. Dark fruits, pecans, banana, coconut, mocha and cherries. Like aging a fine wine, this beer can only get much much better with age. I don’t know it’s exact peak but I am sure it is around this time. Try the original Deliverance, feel like you will be damned or saved….the choice is yours >:P

2012 Review:
A revisit for a beer that is worthy!! Good vs. Evil is everywhere at every-time. Our actions can take us down the fork into the righteousness or into the oblivion. For whatever decisions are taken in life, in the the end can only be seen as point of views by the masses. But what is the important truth of what is right? Well that is for you to decide. After all, to the rest of the universe, view points are meaningless. This is the hard and very sought after brew, Deliverance by The Lost Abbey brewing. You won’t find this very easily but it is out there. I was lucky enough to find another bottle of this magic. As my last one was actually used as a present from my friend Chino :). Which was an awesome offering by the way. But I figure this beer deserves a bit more of explorations than what I could conjure at that time. This beer is a 12.5% ABV beer with it’s story depicting battles between good and evil, heaven and hell. It mentions the struggle of the end of the world and what is to come for everyone. Whether your good or bad, it don’t matter. You will get yours and I will get mine. So hope you can find this bottle of Deliverance :P. The tastes is just as I remember it before. With the mix of Angel Share and Serpent’s Stout it brings forth Salvation and Damnation all at once with flavors of Bourbon raisin, Brandy chocolate, Vanilla and caramel aged in oak barrels, velvet and creamy sweetness followed by “sit your ass down son” alcoholic strength. Comes in small bottle so you really have to take it in and take your time like the air you breath. I have to admit, otherwise I would be damned, if I did not say that this one is on my top favorite 10 beers. But hardly would I even get the chance at Deliverance…Life is short, unfair but it is up to you to make of it what you want…enjoy if you can find it friends B-)

2011 Review:

Aged after a while, finally shared this with my friend Chino at his bachelor party. Good and Evil come together in this magnificent ales aged in both bourbon and brandy. The Deliverance according to The Lost Abbey website is an ale made with both Angel Share and Serpent Stout. This one is an ale that is treated as a fine wine. Flavors include chocolate, vanilla, raisins, caramel and other delicious flavors. Bourbon and Brandy mix well with the roasted malts of the serpent stouts. Starts with a strong flavorful taste and leaves with the sweetness of the serpent stout. Truly the struggle of good and evil never tasted so damn good. It’s good to be bad and good to be good some times >:P

— in Belgium.

Angry Beast By Clown Shoes

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Angry Beast, Blaecorn Unidragon, Bourbon Barrel Aged, clown shoes, Clown Shoes Brewing, Clown Shows Angry Beast, Halibel, Neliel, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, Tia Halibel, Tia Harribel, Vampire Slayer | 2 Comments

Rating: 4.75/5

Angry Beast by Clown Shows Brewing is an 11% ABV Imperial Stout that is a blend of Blaecorn Unidragon aged in Bourbon Barrels and Vampire Slayer Imperial Stout .

Label:

Hoppy Feet guy extinguished evil via a sharp stake through an undead chest. Now, Blaecorn Unidragon, mad as hell, has expelled another blood sucker from Earth. No, we do not like Vampires, but we love Vampire Slayer, which was blended with bourbon barrel aged Blaecorn Unidragon to beget Angry Beast.

Been meaning to find this beer for a very long time. Was not the easiest of task but I finally got a chance to try it out. Angry Beast has aromas of roasted coffee, chocolate, little bit of bourbon vanilla, some coconut and caramel. The flavors of the Angry Beast are of smooth dark chocolate, roasted coffee, mocha, rich vanilla and caramel, some oak, smokey notes, and a little bit of coconut and bourbon but enough to not burn. It is kind of weird because at this ABV I would think there should be some boozy burn feel but in actuality it is just smooth and pretty drinkable. Hides the alcohol very well. While I was expecting something super strong, I was actually quite impressed how they can get some of the Bourbon and oak in there without being to hot of a beer on the palate. It is also quite balanced which will make it appealing to those that have not been exposed to Barrel Aged Beers. While it may not pack a punch right to the front, it will get you in the end just give it a while >:P. I am glad I found this beer, if you ever find it, try it out 🙂

Oak Jacked by Uinta Brewing

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Oak Jacked by Uinta Brewing is a 10.31% ABV Imperial Pumpkin Ale Aged in Oak Barrels. So far this one struck gold. Of all the best pumpkin beers out there, this one came in 1st for complexity. This right next to my top picks like Smashed Pumpkins by Shipyard, Good Gourd by Cigar City, La Parcela by Jolly Pumpkin, and Pumking by Southern Tier is the best by far :P.

Label:

Cracked up and primed to celebrate, Jacked revels in the season. Pop the cork for bursts
of pumpkin and spices. Aged in oak barrels, Jacked is wound and ready to play.
Pairs well with flavors of the season.

So where do I begin with how complex this beer is. Well… Here it goes. As best as I can describe it. IT smells like pumpkin, bourbon, coconut and bananas. The flavors are all jacked up. Literally. They are all over the place. I get some sweet potato/yam, piloncillo (Mexican Sugar Block), milk, coconut, matured bananas, bread, bourbon, candy corn, roasted pumpkin seeds, caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, pumpkin pie with bananas in the middle, graham crackers, cinnamon, oak wood, plantain bitterness, citrus, raisins and some plums. Almost like if the made this beer as a Belgian Barrel Aged Imperial Pumpkin master piece. This beer not only brings about what the sweet side of a pumpkin would be but also its vegetable bitterness to it. Quite the treat 😛 and epic at that. Pick it up at Total Wine while it lasts… XP

Tokyo* by Brew Dog

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Tokyo* by Brew Dog is an 18.2% ABV Intergalactic Fantastic oak aged Imperial Stout made with jasmine, cranberries, hops and French oak chips.

Label:

This is a beer inspired by a 1980’s space invaders arcade game played in Japan’s capital.
The irony of existentialism, the parody of being and the inherent contradictions of post-modernism, all so delicately conveyed by the blocky, pixelated arcade action have all been painstakingly recreated in this bottles contents. This imperial stout is brewed with copious amounts of speciality malts, jasmine and cranberries. After fermentation we then dry-hop this killer stout with a bucketload of our favourite hops before carefully ageing the beer on French toasted oak chips.

This is the second time I try this beer. So yes I know this is damn good!! BrewDog, while making good beers, are sometimes kinda pricey. LOL they are from the UK after all so, yeah. This is one intense little beer. Smells like a cranberries, cherry, coffee, chocolate, flowers and hop syrup. The immense amount of flavors do well to cover up all the alcohol quite nicely. LOL seems like, with most high ABV beers past 10%ABV, they get sweeter as they get stronger. The reason has to do with the fermentation and absorption of the barrel aged process. Now Flavors of Tokyo are outstanding! Strong Dark Cherries, cranberries, grapes, sweet blueberries, mocha, minor creme coffee, dark chocolate, oak bourbon, minor grass and grapefruit, apples, caramel, vanilla, flowers, strong honey, and butterscotch. Truly of ninja like qualities. The alcohol hits you way later, but heck you were too busy in ambrosia heaven to realize this little bottle packed a super strong punch now did you? Do I recommend this one? You better fucken believe it. Now this is a sipping beer. Be VERY CAREFUL….2 to 3 of these will gate you wasted lol. Now the only place I have seen it is in Total Wine in Redondo Beach. Like I said, kinda pricey, but a different beer experience all together you won’t regret :P. LOL unless you dislike sweet beers….

2011 Review:

A tribute to the old school, Space Invaders game. The guys at BrewDog made a crazy 18.2% ABV Imperial stout made with Jasmine and Cranberries. A small little bottle unlike others and hard to find. The smell is so good and the taste is very delicious combining the roasted malts and fermenting them. Afterwards the bitterness comes in from dry hop process and finally the nice oaky feel from the French oak chips. I’m torn because I really love these unique heavy beers. They truly add more sweetness as the alcohol rises making it very complex so you dont notice the alcohol and it comes and hits you like sneaking shadow….or something. But anyways…here’s to my list of super strong beers I have tried like Dogfish Head’s 120 minute and World wide stouts… LOL except this ones sweetness is varied like a Christmas chocolate made of cranberries….Sore wa…TOKYO desu yo… Oiishi desuyo ^_^b…First Tribute to Japan and gaming….LOL thanks brew dogs B-)

New Castle Werewolf by The Caledonian Brewery

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.25/5

New Castle Werewolf by The Caledonian Brewery is a 4.5%ABV Irish Blood Red Ale. Been meaning to try this for a while. Ever since it was introduced last year.

Label:

“Formidable Beast”. What better way to toast the fall than to have a bottle of this formidable, dual character brew. At first smooth with mellow overtones of sweet berry fruit, a bite of bitterness suddenly cuts through, long, deep and lingering. Brewed with Rye Malt, it is naturally “blood red” in colour. Unlike the mythical wolf-like creature said to roam the bleak moorland surrounding Newcastle, this is real, so consider yourself warned!

It is a decent beer. I think a step up from normal New Castle Brown. Smells Like Rogue dead guy but lacking a lot of awesome flavors. A Rogue dead guy ultra light maybe? Anyways, the beer has some sweet caramel flavor, nutmeg, a little bit of hazel and peanuts, some pilsner malt, grains, biscuit, minor flavors of apples and peach, hints of earth hops and rye and some roasted pumpkin seed. The flavors do diminish dryly so it makes you want to sips some more. I guess you definitely have to get a couple of these to feel the full effect of what this beer is trying to present to you. Some Beers are better on tap in my option and I am sure, just like regular New Castle Brown, this one is probably way better on tap than in the bottle. Although not bad. I would recommend a try especially for those that like New Castle. Let me know what you think. 😛

Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew by Dog Fish Head

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged herbs and spices, honey beer, miles davis bitches brew | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.85/5

Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew by Dog Fish Head is a 9%ABV Imperial Stout blended with authentic Tej which is an African Honey Liquor as brewed in Ethiopian culture. They also add Gesho Root which is a plant also found in Ethiopian. This beer was actually a collaboration with Sam Calagione and Miles Davis’ family. Bringing forth history in the form of good music and beer :P.

Label:

Miles Davis’ seminal Bitches Brew album was a game changer – a bold fusion of rock, funk and jazz. To honor the 40th anniversary release, Dogfish Head has created a bold, dark beer that’s a fusion of three threads imperial stout and one thread honey beer with gesho root. Like the album, this beer will age with the best of ’em. To hear the music and the story that inspired this beer , go to www.milesdavis.com/brew

For Information on the inspiration for this beer:
http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occassional-rarities/bitches-brew.htm
—-

This is an awesome beer. I have been meaning to pick this up for quite a while since I kept seeing it online. I was hopeful that maybe one day they would re-release this beer again in the stores. I was finally able to find it at Total Wine in Redondo Beach. Not sure how long this one is going to last so if you love historical beers, and well DFH is know for historical beers :P, go get this while it last. Upon opening this beer, I got the awesome whiff of Folklore, a similar Historical Belgian stout saison bybrid by Stillwater Artisanal. There is an an overall strong essence of dark chocolate and coffee like other stouts. Soon after, there comes some sweet honey, caramel, vanilla, toffee, grapes, raisins, cherries, minor lemon zest, herbs and spices as well as some minor bready notes. Not quite like a Belgian but the dark fruits and sweet dulce de leche like make up for it. Which is more like of what I remember from Folklore. However, unlike folklore, this is more fruity. The chocolate, coffee, honey, grapes and cherries push more than the other complexities. This is quite a unique stout and should definitely be tried for sure!! 😛

Red Hoptober by New Belgium

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.25/5

Red Hoptober by New Belgium is their recent Fall Season. It is a 6% ABV Amber Ale.

Label:

A pleasing ale for the harvest season, Red Hoptober is pitched with Centennial, Cascade, and Eldorado Red hops. It’s the perfect sipper for these last, fevered days of summer and the cooling, coming autumn nights. Bold and delicious, Red Hoptober has just enough bitter to delight. Crack one open, sit back and enjoy the season’s change.

Unlike the Fat Tire, (which is awesome), this pushes more hops than malts forward. So the combination is more of a semi bitter with only slight sweetness. Enough to not make it a sweet beer. Flavors remind me of some of the Ambers I have had in the past. Some of the best. Flavors of this beers are of Caramel, earthy hops, grapefruit, grass, pine, minor peanut butter, some sweet biscuit bread, minor apples and cherries, graham cracker, herbs, oregano, spices and smoke. Seems hoppy enough to be close to an IPA but malty enough to say it is of amber ale level. It doesn’t have stronger taste of biscuit, chocolate and coffee but a minute hint of chocolate and coffee that are covered up by the herbal and floral hops. It somewhat captures the end of summer season and goes right into the fall. Amber lovers and some hop heads will like this one.

Antigoon by Robert Wiedmaier, brewed at Brouwerij De Musketiers

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged antwerp belgium, belgium beers, sweet biscuit, sweet potato pie | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.7/5

Antigoon by Robert Wiedmaier, brewed at Brouwerij De Musketiers is a 6.5%ABV Belgian Pale Ale. For those who do not know what this beer is about, there is a Belgian legend behind this artwork. The story goes that there used to be a mythical giant who lived in Antwerp Belgium by the name: Druon Antigoon whom guarded a bridge on the river Scheldt. This Giant would require a toll for those who would dare cross it. Those who refused the toll would get one of their hands severed and tossed into the River. However, once upon a time came a Roman by the name of Silvius Brabo. Silvius faced the giant and was able to slay him. The Roman severed the Giant’s own hand as seen in this artwork and the hand was flung into the River. In the town hall of Antwerp, there is a monument to pay tribute to the legend.

Label: Commissioned for Restaurants by Robert Wiedmaier.

Total Wine in Redondo Beach is about the only place I have ever seen this beer. Passing it up multiple times for other sought out beer until one day I was like screw it, I’ll pick it up. Aside from being a delicious BPA, the art work is awesome. The best part is the story too :P. The flavor of this beer does range as most awesome Belgium beers do. It is somewhat floral like a saison as well though. This one has flavors of sweet biscuit bread, caramel, grass, banana clove, apples, sweet potato pie, lemon citrus, honey, and graham cracker. This beer must pair great with some type of foods. Maybe Pizza or certain fancy cheeses. LOL fancy huh? It is indeed a Belgium worth trying out. I have had others that lean more toward a hoppy Pale Ale but this one is more tamed and more into Belgium complexity. Quite a nice pick up if you do end up getting it at Total Wine :P.

The Great Pumpkin by Elysian

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged great american beer festival, pumpkin ale, pumpkin pie crust, roasted pumpkin seeds | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.9/5

The Great Pumpkin by Elysian is a 8% ABV Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Considered to be one of the best pumpkin ales in the world by Beer Adv. A Seasonal beer that only comes out once a year. So if you can find it, awesome 🙂

Label:

The Great Pumpkin was the 2007 Silver Medalist at the Great American Beer Festival in the Fruit and Vegetable category and is also the world’s first Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Brewed with pale, Munich, Cara-Hell, Cara-Vienne, Cara-Munich and Crisp 45° L Crystal malts. Roasted pumpkin seeds in the mash, and extra pumpkin added in the mash, kettle and fermenter. Spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice.

Each pumpkin beer I have had brings something different to the table which in my previous reviews I have stated these little facts and details. This is sort of like a combination between the smashed pumpkin with its sweet potato/yam, cooked sweet pumpkin and cinnamon with cream as well as the Pumkin from southern Tier with it’s candy and caramel corn sweetness. Additionally, it bring this small Belgian property that seems like a candied sugar and a bit of dark fruit, plums, raisins and anise spice in the aftertaste. It is minute but it adds to the flavors of the beer. Additionally, like other awesome beers of this category, it includes the pumpkin pie crust and filling, nutmeg, ginger and allspice. While it is still pretty good pumpkin beer, I think depending on what mood I am in, will I get this over the Smashed pumpkin beer. Was once 1st best pumpkin beer in the world to the ratings but to me It was pretty awesome but I guess depending on the day would I take this over Smashed Pumpkin. You see, this beer, while it is a very exceptional pumpkin ale with a range of flavors, if I just am in a mood for a strict basic pumpkin beer with flavors just like my mom used to make when she made calabaza con leche, then I would go for the other one. So in retrospect, it all depends on the mood. If you are looking for one exceptional, top of the line Pumpkin beer with a complex range of awesome flavors, go for this one 😛

Split Stout by Elysian

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | 1 Comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Split Stout by Elysian is a 5.6% ABV Espresso Milk Stout. This is equivalent to a strong Starbucks Frappucino if only it had more coffee in it. LOL Espresso Frap. Or well, just some really nice Starbucks coffee in general, puro fancy 😛

Label:

Beer and coffee are Seattle siblings, jealously dividing the day. Split Shot combines the talents of Elysian’s brewers with a pound per barrel of cold-infused, Seattle-produced Lighthouse coffee. It’ll open your eyes to a delicious new beer. Split Shot is the official beer of 2012 Seattle Beer Week.

One of the major components when I started to smell this beer is ….coffee….lots more coffee. The bitterness is not that of a smoked or roasted malts but of actual coffee grounds. Like that of a Rich Colombian beans. Flavors of the Espresso dark coffee adding milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, sweet cream, oatmeal, toffee, Irish cream, Steamed Milk and peanut butter. This is truly a Wake-Me Up Caffeine Coffee Beer. More emphasize on the coffee here but in this awesome sweet and coffee grind bitter way. Unlike other Chocolate / Coffee stouts as they are not just about smokey bitterness but about the coffee or the chocolate. Choklat= Chocolate, Split Stout = Coffee. With that said, Coffee Lovers and Stout lovers will surely like this.

Dark O’ The Moon by Elysian

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged pumpkin ale, pumpkin seeds | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.65/5

Dark O’ The Moon by Elysian is a 6.5% ABV Pumpkin Stout made with pumpkin, pumpkin seeds and cinnamon. This is the next Elysian Pumpkin beer in line. The night owl pumpkin was more of a licorice pumpkin ale. This one is more of a coffee chocolate pumpkin beer.

Label:

Dark o’ the Moon Pumpkin Stout is spookily smooth and chocolatey with a touch of cinnamon. It won a 2010 GABF Silver Medal in the Field Beer Category. Brewed annually for Elysian’s Great Pumpkin Beer Festival.
—

Incredibly smooth to drink and sweet at that. Reminds me of eating sweet yams with champurrado (Mexican atole drink made with hominy flour and spices) There are stronger notes of chocolate, cinnamon and coffee. The pumpkin adds is flavors and uniqueness as you keep trying it. It lingers with sweet potato, yams, Mexican sugar block (piloncillo), milk chocolate, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon cookies, brown sugar, nutmeg and coffee cake. This is more different that the Midnight Sun TREAT. As this focuses more on spicy notes and the other was more about chocolate sweetness. Not the pumpkin specific beer you would expect but he hybrid awesomeness at work is what makes this beer delicious. Stouts and pumpkin ale lovers get this one

Sexual Chocolate by Foothills

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged black strap molasses, Bleach, bourbon barrels, bourbon vanilla, chocolate aroma, Foothills, Halibel, Harribel, Russian Imperial Stout, Sexual Chocolate, Tia Halibel, Tia Harribel, Yoruichi, Yoruichi Shihouin | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.75/5

Sexual Chocolate by Foothills is a 9.75% ABV Russian Imperial stout aged in Bourbon barrels. If a beer was like having sex, maybe the flavor and aroma would be so good it would make some orgasm….maybe..lol. This is a beer you take your time with. Too fast would make you pass out. LOL!!

Label:

A smooth, dark, cocoa infused Imperial Stout barrel aged for 4 months. Perfect for sipping and cellaring. A rich chocolate aroma twines seamlessly with delicious overtones of bourbon, vanilla, and oak. Notes of espresso, black strap molasses and caramel accentuate a dark chocolate backbone and complex layers of toffee and dark fruit.This beer is reminiscent of the Nectar Ales Black Xantus (which pairs awesome with chocolate cheese cake) with its delicious dark fruit flavors like cherry and raisins. Rich Milk chocolate, coffee, mocha, vanilla, caramel, bourbon, butterscotch, toffee, coconut, cherries, raisins, figs, oatmeal, french toast with chocolate and maple syrup. Maybe not as strong in terms of alcohol as Chocolate Rain or White chocolate, but it sure as hell gets way up there in the upper rank breaking beers for me :P. What can I say, I love chocolate, I love chocolate beers and these just happen to be that good and unfortunately hard to find. Consider yourself lucky to find this…Foothills was kind to release this once more this year but unfortunately at a limited supply.

Cuvee de Tomme (2009 ed.) by The Lost Abbey

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged de tomme, oak wine barrels | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Cuvee de Tomme (2009 ed.) by The Lost Abbey is an 11%ABV Wild Quint. This beer is something something special. If 2012 is the end of the world, then best end the best of your days with a fine ale. They take the Judgment day ale quad (4 times fermented) add it to Bourbon and French Oak Wine barrels. Add some Brettanomyces (Wild Yeast) and sour cherries creating the Quintuple Fermentation. They wait a year and then bottle it. Seeing as this is the 2009 version, this beer is way over 11%ABV. Quite possibly in the 14 or 15% ABV. It has been aging and it is now 2012. So give it 3 or 4 years including original aging before bottle conditioning. Before I begin this review, please look at my previous review of Judgment Ale: ( https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/judgement-day-ale-by-the-lost-abbey/)

Label:
You are holding in your hands one of the most elusive and sought after small batch beers known simply as Cuvee. Our Cuvee de Tomme is a blend of Old World Brewing Traditions and New World Brewing Processes. It is made from Judgment Day Dark Ale which then aged in American Bourbon and French Oak Wine barrels. We add some fantastic wild yeasts and Sour Cherries to the barrels creating a secondary fermentation. After one year, our brewers then get together to work out the final blend, This means that each batch of Cuvee will vary slightly between bottling. Yet, the result will always be a memorable drinking experience. Pour into a wide glass and let the beer breathe. Notes of juicy cherries. Luscious Vanilla and Supple Tannins integrate in a smooth finish. We think like most, you will find our most creative energies on display in this unique and style shattering beer worthy of the title Cuvee

This is the second time I try this beer. The first one was the 2011 edition. So this time I get to try an even more vintage ale. This beer comes up nothing short of Epic. Although I do have to say. While the sweet flavors of the quad (Judgment Ale) have transformed into something completely different (Please see the picture), some of the original flavors are still there like the bread, dulce de leche, raisins, figs and plums. Yet even so, over the last 3 to 4 years, it has given rise to stronger flavors of cherry, raisin, sour grape, wine, vanilla bourbon, minor chocolate, earthy must, and bitter dark chocolate. Like a fine wine, it has reached it’s prime. If you do not like sours, try a more recent version of this beer. Other wise, embrace the connoisseuring glory!!!…. Glad to have this beer once more before it is all over…although I will probably be drinking the original during the end of times…What say you friends?? 😛 What will you be drinking during the end??

2011 Review (2011 ed.):
Cuvee de Tomme is a brew that is taken to a crazy level in complexity. I didn’t know dividing by zero to make a beer was even possible but here it is. They start off by taking their Judgment Day Ale which is a Belgian style quad and age it in bourbon and French wine oak barrels. Adding cherries and wild yeast and creating a 5th fermentation from the blend and aging it for another year creates this
super complex oddity of flavor. You have sourness of cherries, the complexities of the yeast the strength and after taste if wine and bourbon as well as vanilla and oak. Also let us not forget the raisins from the Judgement day ale. Since the beginning of my run with beer tasting and label collecting I have not tried the Judgement day ale in a while, and being re brought to the table, in this form, is like knighting those 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse as paladins for the great glory that is beer. I have had a long run in this game and it is almost about a year now since the first time I tried that brew and I reflect how far I have come with this hobby and I am glad that even in moderation, craft brewery and drinking beer should be seen as an awesome thing, an art. Not a lot of respect out there for beer, but things change and someday a lot of people will see…There is more to life than what is presented them….They just have to go out there and find it 🙂

Folklore, The Tale of Van Winkle by Stillwater Artisanal

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged bourbon barrels, myth and legends, myths and legends, pappy van winkle | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

And so it was written, a return of Folklore. I have previously stated much about the original beer, the beer of myth and legends (https://brewerianimelogs.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/folklore-mythic-tradition-ale-by-stillwater-artisanal/)

The Folklore Mythic Tradition ale by Gypsy Brewer Stillwater Artisanal now brings forth a chapter in brewing arts…Folklore, The Tale of Van Winkle. The original Folklore aged in freshly emptied 20year old Pappy Van Winkle Oak Bourbon Barrels coming in at 8.4%ABV.

A recent chapter in the tribute to human history which the myths and legends shape the cultures all over the world. Rituals, gatherings, celebrations or just being social and sharing stories. The original Folklore had elements of good and evil which is important in cultures and decision making. This barrel aged version bring a tale as well….similar to the show of life….Doth Fate Raise the Curtains and let the show commence…..

-=The Show of Life=-
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg4I_ZjiUMs)
by Billy Shakesbad, begins….OLD NICK: Woe be woman, whose fate it is to serve.MEPHISTA: May thy tongue shrivel, that it spews such falsehoods.

OLD NICK: Ah, but does not a man pull thy strings?

MEPHISTA: We are all but puppets of greater powers.

OLD NICK: Puppets? As in the Show of Life? Truly, birth doth draw wide the curtains. And woman, are thy lines scripted? In that I can be no one but myself, I can say only my lines. So sad, to be so constrained.

MEPHISTA: It is I who feel for thee. Thine own role and fate has ever been written, while mine own changes with each breath. Yea, tho puppet I be, it is hope, faith, and love that pulls my strings.

OLD NICK: Woman, mine ears do sting from thy tongue. I shall away in search of easier folly!
===============================================
Original Story by Squaresoft Inc. from the Secret of Evermore SNES Game
—-

So what is brought forth in terms of smell and flavor…the original was like a Belgian Stout full of flavors or chocolate, coffee, bread and dark fruits. The fragrance of this is similar with the chocolate, coffee, but there is a rush of caramel and vanilla bourbon. The flavors are similar of oak, cherry, raisins, rye bread, dark chocolate, coffee cake, vanilla, dulce de leche, vanilla, whiskey, molasses, and licorice. The aftertaste is like a dipped peach in chocolate and whiskey. I recommend this one simply because Stillwater has yet to provide a disappointing beer. I love the art work and I love the beer it comes with. Some day I am sure California will have this more often >:)…..

Thus the curtains close on this fine tale/brew and many a brew be brought forth for many morrows…….

White Chocolate by The Bruery

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged bourbon barrels, Bruery, cacao nibs, dessert, Naruto, rich flavors, Temari, Temari Sabakuno, The Bruery, White Chocolate | 1 Comment

Rating: 6/5

White Chocolate by The Bruery is a 14.25%ABV WheatWine Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels with Cacao Nibs and Vanilla Beans. The Polar opposite of the Chocolate Rain. Can be aged up to 5 years.

Label:

The primary component of our “White Oak” ale is a 100% barrel aged wheat wine that we affectionately refer to as “White Oak Sap.” Essentially a “summer” barley-wine style ale, but made with a wheat heavy grain base, White Oak Sap is aged in used bourbon barrels for nearly a year and comes out rich in flavors of coconut, honey, caramel and vanilla. To compliment the already rich flavors of the beer, we’ve added cacao nibs and vanilla beans to give this beer the delicate flavor of white chocolate…hence the name. This is where the ultimate in brewing alchemy comes together to combine flavors to create something so ridiculously sweet and awesome. Now in the past I mentioned about how chocolate rain had become one the best and sweetest beers out there for me, well right in part to that comes this one. The White Chocolate. This totally smells and taste like ripe and strong white chocolate. It is strange because they use wheat so you also get these very faint heffeweizen orange and banana bread in the back. Quite the dessert beer here. There is a lot of flavors of caramel, vanilla, honey orange, sweet bread, maple, strong white chocolate, bourbon, cocoa, hazel nut, pecans, chocolate chip and cinnamon . While this is a strong alcoholic beer which should be taken lightly and a sip at a time, it is also super sweet. LOL like another Diabetes in a bottle. I have never tried a white chocolate beer. This one really takes the cake in terms of different types of beers ever. It is the best “rarest” beer in the world for me along with chocolate rain. That being said, I still consider Trois Pistoles and St. Bernardus the best in the world simply because they are easier to find. White Chocolate and Chocolate Rain are just a chocolate lovers dream. Those and Southern Tier choklat which is lighter. Would I recommend this?? You are damn right I would. Sweet tooth and Chocolate lovers will die with this one. Should be on the bucket list lol. Now I can scratch this off my list ;P

Scaldis Prestige De Nuits (Cuvee Speciale 2009) by Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | 1 Comment

Rating: 5/5

Scaldis Prestige De Nuits (Cuvee Speciale 2009) by Brasserie Dubuisson Frères sprl is a 13%ABV Dark Belgian Strong Ale aged in wine oak barrels. I would consider this beer a hybrid between a Belgian quad, a Bourbon oak aged and a Wine Barrel aged ale. Hence the word Cuvee which is a mix of ales. Although, the way this is made is somewhat similar but in may ways different. Never the less, this was super hard to find.

Label:
Like the Brasserie Dubuisson’s renowned Scaldis Prestige, Scaldis Prestige de Nuits is aged in oak barrels for six months. But Prestige de Nuits is made of Scaldis Noel aged in Bourgogne barrels from the world famous “Nuits St. Georges” vineyard. The result is an ale of extraordinary complexity and depth.

Bush de Noël, ripened for 7 months on wine casks from Burgundy (Nuits-St.-Georges).
—

How flavor complex is this mother of an ale? Well I won’t even begin there. I’m gonna talk about the way this smells. It smells like a pecan pie with caramel, boysenberries or blueberries and cream on top and a cherry on top. This is simply a dessert beer and a very complex and strong one. Best drunk in several sittings. This is no joke. It is good but it will get you really mest up…LOL maybe not as mest up as Chocolate Rain and it’s 19%ABV insanity but pretty damn close. Now for the flavor. MMMM damn…. well I can sense the quad, bourbon and wine in here. Simply put, it ranges in complex flavors similar to the smell but more on depth. Pecan pie, hazelnut, Toffee, dulce de leche, caramel, brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, plums, raisins, figs, wine grapes but not too sour, cherries, apples, peach, bourbon, oak and buttered toast. This is pretty much like an Bourbon and wine oak aged Weyebacher Blasphemy Quad which is probably cheaper and somewhat easy to find online. Regardless, I highly recommend to those Belgian Beer Lovers. The only thing though is not just good luck finding it but also….well….technically speaking, it was kinda pricey :S…..but damn worth it!!

Stone Fifteenth Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black India Pale Aged in Highland Scotch Barrels

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged black ipa, Stone Brewing, vanilla flavors, world class beers | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

BEHOLD!!… Stone Fifteenth Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black India Pale Aged in Highland Scotch Barrels…..phew!! took a while to say. The 15th anniversary was a beer I had last year which I would highly recommend if you can find it in some pubs. This one however, is a special treasure. Coming in at 11.5%ABV is white the epic little find. Stone now had a store in Pasadena so you may be able to find this there. If not, find a local contact at San Diego to hook you up.

Label:
The Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA was something quite special. Special enough that we squirreled some away for later when supplies ran low (or as provisions during a zombie apocalypse). And what better place for the squirreling of world-class beers than barrels originally used to age world-class Scotch whisky? This stellar jet-black highly-hopped ale is plenty amazing on its own with its healthy dose of darkly roasted malts and an even healthier dose of four hop varieties. But left to rest for 40 weeks in the cozy, dark confines of whisky-infused oak barrels, this beer metamorphosed into a brew of nearly indescribable complexity—a perfect harmony of deep roastiness, bright and bitter hop notes, and the smooth caramel flavors of Scotland’s most celebrated export. Come to think of it, you may not want to wait for that zombie apocalypse…
—-

LMAO!!..whether you wait for the end of the world or the zombie apocalypse on 12-21-2012 or whenever, there are only certain beers to take with you. If you happen to find this little treasure buy 2. One for now, and one for then. I unfortunately only got one 😦 …..well….life is meant to be enjoyed. We do not know what tomorrow can bring so I choose now :P.

The fragrance is very delightful. Like a sweet bourbon, chocolate, oak, coffee, honey whiskey, caramel and vanilla. Flavors are just like the hoppy, Italian herbs, minor citrusy, roasted chocolate, coffee, mocha, caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, raisins, molasses, . It is only semi-bitter as the other notes from the rich malts and the sweet scotch give it only a mild bitter yet super herbal hoppy flavor . The scotch is present but doesn’t overwhelm and adds to the flavor combination that makes the after taste seem like a good herbal and spiced cheese. In fact, this ale goes down real smooth :P. I stated in my previous review that the 15th is spicy and herbal like an Italian bread. This just compliments it to a newer level of sweet and delicious. I am sure this would pair nicely with some really good food like a steak or lobster dinner. Do I recommend this? Your damn right I do :P… Stone makes some of the finest beers out there :P.

Sugar Plum by Cigar City

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.25/5

Sugar Plum by Cigar City is 5.5%ABV Spiced Brown Ale made with fruits and spices. One thing to note about this beer is that it has a rush of fizz. Therefore it is best poured near a sink. LOL early Christmas.

Label:

Cigar City Brewing’s official celebration of Christmas. A rich-bodied brown ale forms the stage for holiday flavors which dance a festive ballet highlighted by pirouetting leaps of Christmas inspired spices. Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, rose hips and chamomile compliment the subtle chocolate and light coffee notes of the malt and the addition of roasted carob and chicory complete the performance. Brewed once a year to celebrate the Christmas season. Pair with fresh cracked nuts, fruit cake and share with friends and family. Merry Christmas from the CCB family!
—–

When I first tried this beer, I noticed it wasn’t overall sweet. The smell sure of a brown ale with caramel, spices and plums. The flavors is a mix of flavors but with the herbs and spices dominating over the sweet aftertaste. What I can gather from this is some caramel, coffee, plum, raisin, lots of cinnamon, ginger, peanut butter, nutmeg, minor hints french toast dipped in maple, oak, bitter chocolate, and earthy hops . Sort of reminds me of the Gift of the Magi but less sweet. While it is a decent beer, it is probably worthy of a try as the flavors do get better as you go on. But overall just try it just to try it and share it.

La Parcela no.1 by Jolly Pumpkin

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

La Parcela no.1 by Jolly Pumpkin is a 5.9% ABV Pumpkin ale. Truly the signature beer of the JP series. As we approach the Fall, we will surely find Halloween around the corner, and what a better way than to enjoy it with a special beer such as La Parcela. This is the second time I try this beer and it was my true true first pumpkin ale that was closer to pumpkin than anything I had

tried in the past. So tradition had it that I would try it once more :).

Label:
Ok, so the joke was that Jolly Pumpkin doesn’t brew a pumpkin beer. Well, now we do. Just this one. Packed with real pumpkins, hints of spice, and a gentle kiss of cocoa to liven the soul. An everyday easy way to fill your squashy quotient. Guess now folks will have to find something else to joke about…
—

SO… as I had stated earlier about pumpkin beers is that each is unique and has different things to offer. We had a nice round of several reviews from the shipyard smashed pumpkin (sweet yam,pumpkin, potato, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg all spice awesome), Southern Tier Pumpkin (Candy Corn, pumpkin, caramel epic), Elysian Night owl pumpkin(Licorice and pumpkin spice), Sam Adams Fat Jack(Brown English and pumpkin pie) and the Cigar city Good Gourd(5th best in the world, pure pumpkin sweetness, spices, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, crème, pumpkin bread pie you name it).

La Parcela is even more different in it’s own way :). You see, La parcela is made as a sweet/sour pumpkin beer. The reason being is that they want you to not only experience the sweet pumpkin awesomeness but also the awesomeness essence of pumpkin itself. While this may still not be the best pumpkin beer in the world, it brings forth what real pumpkin is before it is enticed with the awesome sweetness. Needless to say, you get some major pumpkin pie, sweet potato/yam/Squash, whipped cream, nutmeg, all spice, apples, citrus, cinnamon and vanilla with pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pulp, grape wine and spices. The finish is dry, but I would assume that this is normal for beers or a vegetable decent ;). Pumpkins have their own sweetness about them that cannot be covered in sweet cinnamon, sugars and spices but natural sweetness. I think this is what this beer is emphasizing. Regardless, love the JP beers, some of the best sours of the world.

2011 Review:
Jolly Pumpkins prime ale. The Calabaza or pumpkin ale. This magnificent beer is filled with a lot of wonders. It seems to be more of a fall time, Halloween going into thanksgiving kind of desert beer. Of all the JP ales I have had I would say this is their main mascot….lol besides BAM their dog mascot for beers 😛 of course. Anyways, this ale is brewed in the JP sourness or funk as others call it as usual. Malts,Cinnamon, nutmeg, Pumpkin and or squash is present. There is also a citrus and Saison style this beer from the wild yeast as well the spices. Sweetness provided by the malts is also present in here. The beer has a nice bitterness to start followed by the JP funk and mix blend of flavors and finishes off with the cinnamon pumpkin/squash after taste. I would not kid when I say this but this is one for the records. It’s like drinking a pumpkin pie, very very good :D!!!

The Wanderer collaboration by City Beer Store and The Bruery

November 5, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

The Wanderer collaboration by City Beer Store and The Bruery is 8% ABV Dark Sour/Wild Ale brewed with Blackberries and Cherries and aged in Barrels.

Label:

Wandering into a serendipitous meeting in Boonville led to the forging of a relationship between City Beer Store and The Bruery and a beer collaboration worth celebrating. Cheers to five years! Suitable for aging up to five years if cellared around 55F (13C). Ideal serving temperature is 50F (10C). Please pour carefully, leaving the sediment behind in the bottle. Best served in a tuilp or wine glass.
—

Sip, Sip, SIP!! is what is written here in these walls. This is a funky, tart and minor sour beer with lots of fruity notes. More sweet than sour. Sourness is just a fruit sour really. Flavors of cherries, blackberries, grapes, apples, cinnamon, melon, oak, caramel, almonds, hazel, herbs and other spices. The sourness lingers very little. Mainly leaving a sweet dry finish. Quite the beer here. While La Roja by Jolly Pumpkin is similar yet emphasizes more on the wine sourness, this one is more on sweetness. So choose wisely as to what you like more, sweet vs. sour or the combination of both, just like the Platypus in that pic (Duck Beaver Hybrid) 😛

Good Gourd by Cigar City

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged cigar city, Good Gourd, pumpkin ale, pumpkin flavor | 1 Comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Good Gourd by Cigar City brewing is an 8.5%ABV Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Another Pumpkin beer Review :P. Each different from the rest and yet always delicious.

Label:

Legend has it that when a pumpkin comes into the world it is possessed by either a good or an evil spirit. Ours got all the good baby! Bursting with real pumpkin flavor and yummy pumpkin spices including Ceylon cinnamon, Jamaican all-spice, Zanzibar cloves and nutmeg, Good Gourd is a celebration of Fall and that spookiest of holidays, Halloween. Pair Good Gourd with pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie and costume parties.

This high Gravity gob of Gourd-y goodness incorporates pumpkin in the mashing process and then gets wicked with the spices including Ceylon Cinnamon, Jamaican All Spice, Zanzibar Cloves and nutmeg.

So here we have Good Gourd and well Good God this pumpkin beer is pretty good. Pumpkin sweetness like that of the Smashed Pumpkin with is sweet potato/yam/pumpkin sweetness but this one really works to add that and more!! It really is a pumpkin beer trying to become an actual pumpkin pie or bread. There are some major flavors of pumpkin, caramel bread, whipped cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, spices, vanilla, ginger bread, danish cookies, brown sugar and raisins . Pumpkin dessert in a bottle and quite the epic one. This one takes over so far from all the pumpkin beers I have tried so far except maybe Parcela. I will have to compare it since last time I tried Parcela was last year and that one was quite unique. This is one so good and delicious but because it is hard to find

Transatlantique Kriek by New Belgium

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Transatlantique Kriek | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.45/5

Transatlantique Kriek by New Belgium is 8%ABV Lambic Fruit beer made from 45% Ale with Cherries and and 55% Ale. Lambics range in flavors styles and names. Kriek being made with Cherries, Framboise being made with Raspberries, Peche made with Peaches and so forth. When fermentation of a beer has been created, they add fruits into the batch and it creates a beer of that specific fruit. With low malts and hops being added, the fruit really drives here. Quite nice really :). Framboise de Amorosa was similar but added Brettanomyces into the yeast to make it sour and complex. Ofcourse that is that beer and this is Transatlantique :P.

Label:
In a never-ending quest to create new beers and defy category, New Belgium Brewing and Brewerij Boon of Belgium have partnered together again to create Transatlantique Kriek – a spontaneously fermented lambic ale made with Polish cherries.

This authentic kriek beer began life in the oaken vessels at Frank Boon’s brewery in the Lembeek region of Belgium. After more than two years aging, Boon’s offering shipped across the Atlantic and found its way to the intuitive palate of New Belgium’s Brewmaster Peter Bouckaert. After much sampling and internal consultation, Peter and his brew staff created a full-bodied golden lager to round out the light-bodied kriek.

The cherry nose gives way to a pleasingly sour flash across the palate that rolls gently into a slightly sweet finish. Crisp, effervescent carbonation keeps the mouth feel bright and delightfully tingly.
—

Sometimes Fruit beers, specifically with stronger fruit beers, they fall into their own category all together as they are not beer with fruit added to it. It is a fruit that is added to fermentation of a premature beer. The flavors of tart, funky and somewhat sour cherries, vanilla, caramel, orange peel, little bit of raspberry, apples and grapes. Some minor sweet bread notes are hinted but not too abundant. Almost like cherry candy in a light beer, cept the cherry candy takes over. The good thing about this beer is that it hides the alcohol well. Almost too well, to the point that you may not even notice it and the thing about it is that it is highly drinkable. Those who like sweet beers but wont mind some tart and very minor sour notes will like this one.

Krampus by Southern Tier Brewing

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged legend of santa claus | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.5/5

Krampus by Southern Tier Brewing is a 9%ABV Imperial Helles Lager. BeerAdv describes as an imperial pilsner. I know it is not Christmas yet but it is close to the end of the year we have just approached the last quarter and I figured I talk about this beer as it may fall in a Halloween sense yet this is more for a Christmas time. So for the many that don’t know about Austrian Chrism

as tradition, the label states below a bit about Santa’s side kick who makes sure that the little boys and girls who misbehaved through out the year don’t simply just get coal….but an ass whoopin’. In some extreme stories of the legend of Santa Claus helper, it is said that he takes those bad kids and eats that ….Wow, now that is reinforced parenting right there. You misbehave, and Krampus will eat you…LMAO!!
More info on Krampus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

Label:
ARE YOU NAUGHTY OR NICE?
St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, is a magical figure, the bringer of gifts and an icon of holiday spirit. Forgotten by most is his evil side kick and enforcer of ‘the list’. European tradition says while St. Nick is busy delivering presents to good little boys and girls, Krampus hands out punishments to the bad. A fanged, goat-horned bully, the Christmas Devil uses sticks and chains to beat the naughty children. Dark malts and aromatic hops create the diabolical spirit of this brew. It is finished with lager yeast and aged cold for no less than 30 days. This Imperial Helles Lager will warm even the darkest hearts. This season, replace the cookies with a bottle of Krampus. If he happens to pay a visit, toast to him with this devilish brew. Merry Kramp-mas to all, and to all a good pint!

Alcohol 9.0% by Vol.
20º plato.
2-row pale, debittered black malt, munich malt, and caramel malt.
Kettle hops: Chinook dry hops, and Willamette
—————-

So who would of thought of a German Helles be spicy and malty like a Christmas beer yet light bodied and hide the alcohol. Flavors of strong toffee, caramel, earthy hop grass, minor citrus and wheat, not really sensing pilsner but that may just be covered up too. There is some cinnamon, nutmeg, buttered up biscuit, oranges and minor grapefruit. This beer is decent and reminds me of the Samichlaus Helles. It is hard to explain this beer as it is a different style. Seems so similar to a German Bock with extra hops. Maybe a German style amber… not sure. Regardless it is still a good sweet Christmasy beer and should be tried atleast once or twice 🙂

choklat by Southern Tier Brewing

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Belgian Chocolate, Black Water Series, cacao nibs, Chocolate, choklat, dark chocolate, Imperial Stout, milk Chocolate, Southern Tier | Leave a comment

Rating: 5.5/5

choklat by Southern Tier Brewing is an 11%ABV Imperial Stout brewed with chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Belgian Chocolate, German Chocolate, chile chocolate oh yes and CHOCOLATE PRIME!!! Imagine Chocolate rain toned down enough by alcohol but also with adding some bitter-sweet chocolate into the concoction. You get this beer. One of the most Chocolatey beers I have ever

had D:….aside from chocolate rain ofcourse.Label:
“the ancients called it ‘food for the gods’“ The Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, unfolds a complex web of mystery around a beverage known as xocoatl (ch-co-atle). At Southern Tier, we’re not surprised that hieroglyphs of the ancient Maya depict chocolate being poured for rulers and gods. Even through the many voyages of Columbus, the mystical bean remained nothing more than a strange currency of the native peoples. Moving through centuries, the circular journey of cacao has been realized in our brewing house, encompassing the complexity of the darkest, bitter-sweet candy together with the original frothy cold beverage of the ancient Maya to bring to you our Blackwater Series Choklat Stout. We have combined the finest ingredients to tempt your senses & renew the power & interrelation of history in every bottle.

Alc. 11.0% by vol.
27o plato
195o L
2-Row barley
Caramel 60 malt
barley flakes
chocolate malt
bittersweet Belgian chocolate
kettle hops: chinook & williamette

This is one of the ultimate tributes in chocolate history right next to chocolate rain!! While Chocolate Rain reaches flavors in the 10th dimension, this reaches somewhere near there…maybe the 5th dimension of flavor. So what is this stout like? If chocolate milkshake with cinnamon, cocoa powder, and that sweet sweet chocolate soda I had in Iowa along with chocolate syrup and dark bitter chocolate and chocolate with a little bit of chili spicy but so faint it only contributes to the bitter-sweet then this is the flavors you have. Some Espresso coffee mocha lingers with caramel and vanilla too. Damn… This is another Diabetes bottle :X….but it is so good!!!! IF you ever had a beer where you had to dig to find the flavor or something that wasn’t easily defined in terms of flavor….well look no further….this beer will help. You don’t even have to taste it to know it has strong chocolate odor. If you do taste it though….you’re done!!…this is a massive dessert here…you may not stop drinking it…careful though :P… You probably have not lived a “Chocolate Lover’ life if you have not tried this beer…

Oxymoron The Midnight Project Brew III 2010 collaboration by LeftHand and Terrapin

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.75/5

Oxymoron The Midnight Project Brew III 2010 is a collaboration between LeftHand and Terrapin Brewing companies. It is a 7.2%ABV Teutonic India Pale Lager or a Strong Double Pilsner as explained by BeerAdv. Second time I try this beer and quite frankly, what attracted me to this beer was the awesome artwork. The second time was simply the interesting taste.

Label:

“Sometime around midnight in a city nobody can agree on, the idea for Left Hand and Terrapin to brew a collaboration beer was born. Oxymoron is the third in the series of one-time releases between out two breweries. A combination of contradictions embodied in liquid form. Oxymoron is an American-style IPA brewed with three German malts, six German hops varieties, and a lager yeast strain. Obnoxious yet reserved elevated yet modest, it’s the embodiment of blending two brewing philosophies together in order to achieve singularity. Consider it an expression of cruel kindness”.

So this doesn’t drink like a IPA…don’t even go there… but it is much better than a usual pilsner for sure. So it is delicious. It is quite heavy for a so called lager but I guess it is called a lager because of its pilsner flavor but mainly because it is kind of light flavored even though it is full bodied. It flows like a German bock with these sweet toffee caramel reminiscent of the Rogue Dead guy but lighter.. Some light grassy pine and citrusy but sort of dry as more brown sugar and caramel take over. Some bread is there as well. LOL What can I say, IPA or IPLs are not meant to be aged. The fresher the more the grassy, grapefruit and pineapple would flow through. It surely taste more different than last year. It is not bad. Quite enjoyable really. Sorry, beer is more like a bock with faint grass and pilsner in the back. It just means you get more of a sweet tasting beer with some bitterness. So if you do decide to pick this up, hope you are reading my review to get a decent idea :)…could be worse…you could have a really bad beer… and this is not a bad beer at all. At least it is not skunky Coronas >.<

2011 Review:
sweet and hoppy beer. Low bitterness even for ipa. The flavor is really unique with a complex amount of malts, hops and caramel like flavors. A pretty unique beer collaboration between left hand and terrapin.

Framboise de Amorosa by The Lost Abbey

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged Framboise de Amorosa, The Lost Abbey | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.75/5

Framboise de Amorosa by The Lost Abbey is a 7% ABV American Wild Ale brewed with raspberries and aged in oak barrels. This is not your typical Framboise. What we have here is something delightfully different. A sweet and sour complexity. This is the second time I try this beer and well, sometimes certain beers are better the second time around ;)…She’s a keeper

Label:

The 10 Commandments and its “Thou Shalt Nots” do not apply to Amorosa. A courtesan, she has no need for the morality of denial. A stunning beauty with depth of spirit and sensuality. Amorosa is ruled by the fruits of her loins and mother earth. Sweet and sour, Amorosa is equal part lover, liberated soul and the object of every suitor’s affection. She is desire incarnate and sensuality embodied. In choosing to open this bottle, you are now courting this magnificent woman. For some she will arrive like the Siren’s call breathing upon your lips and dancing across your taste buds. Others will be denied. For you see, a wanton woman. Amorosa beckons all and chooses few. Will your prayers be answered?

So really it depends on whether you are willing to look past the sourness of her (Am I right guys :P?) to find the true sweet flavor inside. It takes time but aside from the wine and sour grape like funky acidity (like some of the Jolly Pumpkin beers although not too sour..) then you will find a rich raspberry tart and cherry pie. Some oak, caramel, vanilla, apples, cranberries, buttered toast and honey. I would recommend this only if your truly looking to look past the bit of sourness really. Otherwise you may not be worthy of this mistress. Oh yeah and by the way, good luck finding it, Ramirez Liquor in Boyle Heights has it sometimes.

2011:
Framboise de Amorosa is a wild ale that can only be tamed by those worthy of her taste…LOL. Sweetness from raspberries and sourness from the wild yeast strains. Tart and dry finish. The aromas are awesome with notes primarily of raspberries and fruity fragrances. LOL I like how the label talks about “Courting” the beer….Respect the lady like you would a fine brew 😛

Stingo Collaboration No. 3 by Boulevard and Pretty Things Brewing

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 5/5

Stingo Collaboration No. 3 is a Collaboration by Boulevard and Pretty Things Brewing Companies. It is an 8.5%ABV English Strong Ale. Although this beer taste more like a Dubbel or a Quad. That’s just me though :P. Actually more of a English and Belgian Hybrid

Description:

Collaboration #3 Stingo was brewed using traditional English ingredients. A variety of ale and specialty malts from Yorkshire are at the forefront; their pronounced roasty aroma and flavor contain hints of toffee, cocoa and bread crust. English hop varieties contribute subtle herbal, peppery qualities. The beer was brewed in batches; some was fermented on oak, some was fermented normally, and some was allowed to sour in the mash tun before being transferred to a fermenter. Boulevard’s brewers, along with Dann and Martha Paquette of Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, then blended the batches until desired levels of wood and tartness were achieved for the final product. Aroma Roasted and caramelized malts, toffee, wood, cocoa, banana, almond, mocha, brown sugar, bread crust Malt Roast, burnt, toasty, bready, rich, toasted sweet caramel Hops Subtle herbal and peppery Balance Malt Body Medium; malty body offset by acidity

Smells like a Definite Dubbel and English Brown Hybrid. The Flavors are quite a treat. I figured this beer was gonna be good especially since Pretty Things and Boulevard make some pretty awesome beers. Flavors Include Chocolate Chip Banana, Vanilla, Espresso, sweet caramel bread, raisins, plums, apples, cherries, toffee, oak, brown sugar, smoked Toast with butter, Hazelnut and Pecan Pie. Yeah this one is pretty rich for an English Style. If this was the best or one of the best, it would be the best in the English style of ales…Although it is a “Style” it may not categorize the best out there for England as it was not brewed there. Even so, this is one of the best English Belgian Hybrids out there. Go look for this if you can 😀

Belgian Style Yeti by Great Divide

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.9/5

Belgian Style Yeti by Great Divide is a 9.5%ABV Russo Belgo (Russian and Belgian) Imperial Stout. Belgian Stouts are some of my favorites. Whats not to like about Belgian Chocolate and Caramel?

Label:

Belgian Style Yeti is a delicious new blend of brewing techniques – all the malt-driven roastiness of our Yeti Imperial Stout with characteristic spice and fruit notes imparted by our special Belgian yeast strain. Belgian Style Yeti is a one-of-a-kind beer as mysterious as the mythical creature himself. Impossible? See for yourself, you’ll be a believer, too.

There have been some beers that have been able to fit that fabled style that I love so much so well. Sam Adams Thirteenth Hour Stout, Ommegang Art of Darkness, Buffalo Belgian Stout and Allagash Black. This one takes its attempt but implies some bitterness from the roasted malts which is quite delicious. While we still get some dark fruits like raisins, currants, dulce de leche bread, banana and chocolate in the backbone. There is some espresso with Irish vanilla cream or marshmallows, butterscotch vanilla and toffee mixed in there. Some bitter earthy hops join the crusade. Sweet and Bitter….this is damn good. While the balance is pretty decent, it still allows you to know that there is some other flavors. Therefore you can taste most of the flavors separately as you go on. LMAO!!..if Monks can see visions of God and Saints…They might as well see glimpses of Yetis and Sasquatches too :P. Belgian and Stout fans…definite pick up here :D…Delicious dessert beer here. Perfect pair with something sweet.

Quilter’s Irish Death by Iron Horse

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 | Leave a comment

Rating: 4.8/5

Quilter’s Irish Death by Iron Horse is a 7.8%ABV Dark Strong Ale. Ummm…yeah that’s the best I can describe this beer as. Hell, even the Brewer is like…don’t even bother categorizing as a style. So there!!

I used my phone to scan the QR-Code on the bottle and it took me to this:

Description:
Created by the brewery’s founder, Quilter’s Irish Death is what we call a dark, smooth, ale. Any attempt at classifying it just ends up sending beer geeks into a style guidelines diatribe. So forget style guidelines. Is your pursuit of micro beer about tasting copies of a style that fit guidelines anyways? (Neither is ours) We lovingly refer to it as beer candy. While tempting to session this beer, the name is a necessary reminder that despite the surprising approachability, this beer weighs in at a hefty 7.8% ABV

Well Now :P… Beer Candy they say? Well this is damn close to something that would be described as such. LMAO!!
The smell is similar to a Wee Heavy composing of Mint chocolate and coffee fragrance. The Flavor? Well… it goes along those lines…chocolate and coffee but really smooth, go ahead and add some caramel, bananas, raisins and figs. There is hardly no carbonation, hidden alcohol and any sense in bitterness gets tossed out the window. I’m not sure how other people will react to this one. That is why it is hard to grade it. I personally enjoyed it but then again I like certain sweet beers so I don’t mind this. Give it a try, it is yet another different beer…and well…doesn’t really fit any style..

Monkfish by Fish Brewing

November 2, 2012 by cloudx30 tagged barley wine, spicy esters | Leave a comment

Rating: 3.9/5

Monkfish by Fish Brewing is a 9%ABV Belgian Style Tripel Ale. It is not the usual sweeter of the Tripels. This one has some bitter kick to it.

Description:

A cracking fine example of the classic style, Monkfish Belgian Style Tripel Ale is the color of nectar, with a sweet malty flavor and subtle hop aroma. Mingling in its character, fruity and spicy esters impart a heavenly complexity to this medium-bodied delight. Brewed using Pale malt, Honey malt, aromatic malt, Belgian candy sugar, Styrian Golding hops and, of course, Belgian Abbey yeast, Monkfish stands firmly in the Belgian triple tradition. And remember: Whereas triple ale is the soul of the Belgian favorite, Carbonnade a la Flamande, this classic stew is made all the better by two bottles of Monkfish—one for the pot, the other for your glass.
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So tripel is stronger in terms of bitterness and is more like a heavy barley wine hybrid. The alcohol is only somewhat masked in this beer. It is not a bad beer at all it is pretty interesting really. There is some caramel dulce de leche bread notes with dark raisins in there but also some pine and grass with some sweet pinnaple. It reminds me of a harsher La Trappe Quad made into a Barley wine. Some lemon zest and graham cracker. Some apple cinnamon, wood/oak notes, maple pancakes and jelly, and crème. It is a different beer at that. Just a blend of Belgian and Barley make an interesting combination. This is certainly worth trying 🙂